Private school operators demand safety Act

Expressing concern over safety, private school teachers and principals on Wednesday requested the government to enact a law to ensure protection to educational institutions.

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A number of private school operators led by Kulbhushan Sharma, president of National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) submitted a memorandum for Prime Minister and the President at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The memorandum was handed over to the City Magistrate in Ambala City. To express concerns about the safety of school teachers and principals, a large number of private schools remained closed today.

Kulbhushan Sharma said, “We have not gathered to hold any protest but we have reached here to express our concern and request the government to take some positive and concrete steps for the safety and security of the teachers. A sense of insecurity has prevailed among the teachers and principals after the murder of a private school director Jagbir Singh Pannu in Hisar.”

“Crime against teachers are on the rise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been motivating teachers to give value-based education to students, but the students turn violent when disciplined. The teachers are being attacked and in such a situation no teacher will take risk to discipline the students. The government should enact a law for the security of teachers and principals”, he added.

In the memorandum, NISA has demanded a School Safety Act to ensure protection of students, and school staff, including the teachers, principal and non-teaching staff. NISA has also demanded martyr status for Jagbir Pannu, a financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for the family, and a government job for one of the family members.

NISA president said, “Apart from this, cases of such heinous crimes should be heard in fast-track courts and the culprits should be given the harshest punishment. The definition of minors involved in serious crimes should also be reconsidered and provisions should be made to give them harsh punishment.”

Kulbhushan Sharma further demanded that the minors who show no remorse over their criminal act must be treated as adults and punished accordingly. The implementation of the school safety Act is the need of the hour. Till the time the teachers do not get a safe environment, the education system cannot be strengthened. The Chief Minister and the Education Minister must clarify their stands on the issue.

Similarly, the private school operators reached the Mini-Secretariat in Kurukshetra and marked their resentment. The school teachers and principals submitted a memorandum in support of the school safety Act.